Legal or medical transcription specialist

Law firms, independent lawyers, clinics, therapists, insurers and investigators who dictate or record their work.

Higher per-minute or per-line rates than general transcription, often through ongoing monthly work with a few repeat clients.

• Knowledge of legal or medical terminology
• Very high accuracy and proofreading
• Discretion with sensitive information
• Reliable deadlines

• Health information is covered by provincial privacy laws, check what applies to you and what clients will require
• Some clients may require data to stay stored in Canada, so check your software and cloud tools
• Check whether clients expect certification or proof of training
• Consider professional liability insurance, since errors in legal or medical records can be costly
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence
• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $500 to $2,500, depending on your equipment, secure software and any training you choose to take before you start taking on clients.

Health information is covered by provincial privacy laws, so check what applies and what clients require. Some clients may want data stored in Canada, and some may expect certification or proof of training. Also check home-based business licence rules.

Monthly revenue estimates are typically around $800 to $4,000, depending on your volume of work and clients. Consider professional liability insurance, since errors in legal or medical records can be costly.